Fermata over prallprall line slows play, doesn't extend time play.

• Jun 18, 2025 - 00:44

I am transcribing avant-garde music for plays and trying to follow the score.

There's a fermata over the first prallprall line, except it doesn't extend the play; it makes the play slower than the following bars.

Is this a bug? Or do I need to do something different?

Thanks for all your help.

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Comments

bobjp

• Jun 18, 2025 - 03:25

Not sure what is supposed to happen here. On my system the hold over the first note does play the measure at 20 bpm. But also slows down the prallprall. Try this. Uncheck play for the prall. Add a regular trill for the measure and make it invisible. On my system the tempo is at 20 for the measure but the trill doesn't slow down. Not exactly like the prall, but close.

judeeylander

• Jun 18, 2025 - 04:04

Thanks, bobjp! That's a good workaround. I'll keep it. You are awesome as always. <3

bobjp

• Jun 18, 2025 - 04:42

Well...I don't even know what a prallprall is. I just push buttons until something works. But thanks. Good luck.

judeeylander

• Jun 18, 2025 - 06:10

It's an education for both of us. I just used the mark that matched the score.

Pralltriller: Definition and Word History
The term "pralltriller" in music refers to a specific type of ornament or trill.
Definition:

A quick alternation between a principal tone (the main written note) and the tone immediately above it.
It is a melodic embellishment, often accompanied by a swift auxiliary note played before the primary note.
It's sometimes known as "Prall trill" or "Turn".
The symbol representing it resembles a lowercase letter "m" or a squiggly line.
The execution of a pralltriller is characterized by its extreme rapidity.

Word History:

The term "pralltriller" is a borrowing from German.
Its etymology traces back to the German words "prallen" meaning "to rebound" and "Triller" meaning "trill".
Therefore, the literal meaning is "rebounding trill".
The earliest known use of the noun "Pralltriller" is recorded in 1841.

Historically:

In the Baroque period, "pralltriller" was used to describe an inverted mordent, or a rapid trill of four notes starting on the upper note of a descending second.
However, after 1800, composers retained the symbol for the pralltriller but used it instead for the "schneller" (upper mordent), which wasn't restricted to descending seconds.
Eventually, the name "schneller" fell out of use, and "pralltriller" was applied to the upper mordent.

In summary: The term "pralltriller" originates from German, meaning "rebounding trill". It describes a musical ornament characterized by rapid alternation between the principal note and the note above. While its historical meaning was associated with the inverted mordent, it is now primarily used for the upper mordent. It is a demanding ornament to perform due to the required speed and precision.

A very long way of saying one has to be carefully listening to the first notes to even know what kind of trill or mordant or prall it is. Way over my head. And too fast for my ears. :)